CHI06CA225

NTSB accident investigation · Weatherly 620B · Sioux Center, IA · August 8, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 8, 2006, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
Place
Sioux Center, IA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N9012PWeatherly 620B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration - Des Moines FSDO
FAA report
20060808017629A
Case key
64610

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the subsequent forced landing. A factor to the accident was the soybean crop.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalManeuvering - aerial application
Fluid,fuel - starvationCause
Fuel management - improperPilot in commandCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - cropFactor
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power while performing an aerial application turn and nosed over during the subsequent forced landing. The pilot reported that after maneuvering for approximately 1.5 hours he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The pilot stated that he flew another 15 minutes before the engine lost power during a left-handed teardrop turn. The pilot reported that the loss of engine power "sounded as if the fuel was starved away from the engine, such as the way it would on shut-down." The pilot stated that the engine "made about three or four burping revolutions, then quit altogether." The pilot reported that the airplane was at 200 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he advanced the mixture control to full rich, set the propeller to low pitch, and turned on the fuel pump. The engine did not restart and the pilot performed a forced landing to a soybean field. The pilot reported that the airplane nosed over during the landing rollout. Inspection of the wreckage showed that the fuel selector was positioned on the right tank. No fuel was found in the right tank, gascolator, or carburetor bowl. The interconnected left and center fuel tanks contained a significant quantity of fuel. The fuel samples collected were blue in color and free of any particulate or water contamination.

Factual narrative

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power while performing an aerial application turn and nosed over during the subsequent forced landing. The pilot reported that after maneuvering for approximately 1.5 hours he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The pilot stated that he flew another 15 minutes before the engine lost power during a left-handed teardrop turn. The pilot reported that the loss of engine power "sounded as if the fuel was starved away from the engine, such as the way it would on shut-down." The pilot stated that the engine "made about three or four burping revolutions, then quit altogether." The pilot reported that the airplane was at 200 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he advanced the mixture control to full rich, set the propeller to low pitch, and turned on the fuel pump. The engine did not restart and the pilot performed a forced landing to a soybean field. The pilot reported that the airplane nosed over during landing rollout. Inspection of the wreckage showed that the fuel selector was positioned on the right tank. No fuel was found in the right tank, gascolator, or carburetor bowl. The interconnected left and center fuel tanks contained a significant quantity of fuel. The fuel samples collected were blue in color and free of any particulate or water contamination.

Aircraft

Registration
N9012P
Reported as
Weatherly 620B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1608
Airframe hours
1,537
Engine
Pratt & Whitney R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
West River Aerial, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · April 1, 2006
Departed
SOY · Sioux Center, IA
Destination
SOY

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 1, 2006
Seat
Center
Flight hours
865 total · 368 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
130° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,600 ft broken
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.03 inHg
Observed at
ORC, 10 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.